Overview
Rwanda at a civilised pace: the Virunga volcanoes for primates, then the soft blue calm of Lake Kivu to recover tired legs. The route runs north then west without backtracking, and finishes on the mountain with the gorillas.
Why this safari
6 days, 3 ecosystems, one private vehicle and guide — and the option to fly the long legs.
3 distinct ecosystems in 6 days
Kigali · Lake Kivu · Volcanoes National Park — each chosen for a different animal, landscape and light, and ordered so you never double back.
A tight, purposeful route with no wasted days
Every move is planned around game movements and light, so short days still deliver full game-viewing mornings.
Your own 4x4 Land Cruiser and private guide
No shared vehicles and no fixed departure times — you decide when to leave camp, how long to sit with a sighting, and where to have breakfast.
Flown, not driven — included at Ultra-Luxury
Private charters between Lake Kivu save roughly 3 hours of road time and are included in the Ultra-Luxury price.
Ultra-Luxury is genuinely all-inclusive
All meals, premium drinks, laundry, park and conservancy fees, private guiding and the charter flights are in the price. You should not need your wallet until you tip.
Priced honestly, with fees shown up front
Park and conservation fees, taxes and levies are itemised on your proforma invoice — 50% confirms the booking and the balance is due before travel.
Flying package
Private Cessna Caravan or Grand Caravan charter, meet-and-greet planeside. 15kg per person in soft bags on charter sectors — extra seats can be blocked for luggage.
Pick the legs you'd like to fly — the rest stay on the road in your 4x4.
Saves about 3 hours on the road — time you spend in camp instead.
No flights added yet — every transfer is by road.
At a glance
Jun – Oct (dry season, peak game viewing) · Jan – Feb (calving, fewer vehicles)
Relaxed — long stays, few moves · Easy — suitable for all ages
Private departure — 2 to 6 guests per vehicle
24–32 hours of guided game viewing across 4 active days
Lake Kivu
First-time safari guests · Couples and small private groups · Private departures for 2–6 guests
Day by day
Every day is planned to the hour, with the flexibility to change anything before you confirm.
Lake Kivu
Days 1–2–3–4–5–6 · 5 nights
Lake Kivu
Airport welcome, city tour taking in the Genocide Memorial and Kimironko market, and dinner at one of Kigali's excellent hill-top restaurants.
Arrival, immigration assistance and meet-and-greet by your Perch Africa representative
Transfer, luggage re-pack for light aircraft, and a full trip briefing with your guide
Welcome dinner and route walkthrough with your safari specialist
Highlights
The Retreat by Heaven
Dinner
Private airport transfer
Visa/e-TA must be approved before departure — we send the checklist on booking
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Neutral greens and browns for game drives — avoid blue and black (tsetse flies)
Lake Kivu
Drive along the Congo Nile ridge to Rubavu on the shore of Lake Kivu. Afternoon swim — the lake is bilharzia and crocodile free.
Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — cultural & community visits
Siesta through the heat, then birdwatching & photography
Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars
Highlights
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Breakfast, Dinner
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed
Approx. 1.5 h on the road
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Soft-sided bag of 15 kg maximum per person on light-aircraft transfers
Lake Kivu
Morning boat to the island fishing villages, afternoon at a coffee-washing station to cup Rwanda's finest.
Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — birdwatching & photography
Siesta through the heat, then walking safaris (where permitted)
Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars
Highlights
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
All inclusive
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed
Approx. 1.5 h on the road
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Bring binoculars; one pair per person changes the whole safari
Lake Kivu
Climb to Musanze through terraced farmland. Afternoon golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zone, then a trek briefing.
Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — walking safaris (where permitted)
Siesta through the heat, then guided game drives
Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars
Highlights
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
All inclusive
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed
Approx. 1.5 h on the road
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
A warm fleece for pre-dawn drives — it is genuinely cold before sunrise
Lake Kivu
Early start for the trek — one full hour with a habituated family. Afternoon Twin Lakes drive or a rest by the fire.
Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — guided game drives
Siesta through the heat, then cultural & community visits
Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars
Highlights
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
All inclusive
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed
Approx. 1.5 h on the road
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brim hat and a swimsuit for the coast
Lake Kivu
Return drive to Kigali, a last lunch, and airport transfer.
Final sunrise game drive or a slow breakfast, then check-out and pack
Transfer to the airport with time for the last of your shopping
Assisted check-in for your international flight home
Highlights
Accommodation confirmed on booking
Breakfast, Lunch
Private transfer to the airport
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Spare camera batteries and double the memory cards you think you need
You leave Lake Kivu with the sound of the plains still in your ears — and a standing invitation to come back for the season you missed.
Guest reviews & credentials
“Our guide read the plains like a book — we were the only vehicle at a leopard sighting twice. Every transfer, camp and park fee was exactly as quoted.”
“Travelling with a 6-year-old and grandparents could have been chaos. Perch planned the driving days around nap times and picked family tents with connecting rooms.”
“The migration timing advice was spot on. When one camp went full they moved us to a better one in the same conservancy at no extra cost, same day.”
KPSGA silver & gold guides
Every driver-guide is Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, with 8+ years in the parks on your route.
Licensed tour operator
Registered with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (Kenya) and TALA-licensed operations in Tanzania.
AMREF Flying Doctors cover
Air-evacuation cover for every guest for the full duration of the safari, included in your rate.
Vehicle & safety standards
Serviced 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, first-aid kits, satellite comms and daily driver check-ins.
Transparent proforma pricing
Park fees, conservancy levies, 16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% service charge itemised before you pay.
4.9 / 5 guest rating
Across 380+ reviewed departures, with a 62% repeat-and-referral rate from past travellers.
Good to know
Or explore
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Bespoke
Every Perch Africa Safaris journey can be customised — combine destinations, swap accommodations, add private guides, extend with a beach. Tell us your dream.
Customise My SafariNot every safari company. The safari company.
Anyone can send you a brochure. We build your journey with named stays, verified availability and every cost shown before you commit — then save the finest sighting for your final golden hour.
01
Your dates, pace, interests and budget shape the route. We order every stop logically and keep the strongest experience for the finish.
02
Your safari is not a shared departure. Leave when you are ready, stay longer at a sighting and adjust each day with your guide.
03
You see the proposed camps, transfers, flights, park fees, inclusions and exclusions before you decide—not just a headline price.
04
Suggested stays remain suggestions until checked. We verify the space for your dates before issuing the booking offer.
05
Change the route, number of nights, camp level or transport until the journey fits. Nothing is booked until you approve it.
06
The itinerary, quote and booking details stay aligned. A 50% deposit secures the approved trip, with the balance paid closer to travel.
